Joy Love, Michael Wenzel, & Lydia Woodyatt
Vision thinking for collective action
Contact at: joy.love@flinders.edu.au
Vision thinking is specified as simulation of a positive or ideal future of a collective, and operationalised as comprising the formation of mental representations, unrestrained thinking, creativity, and positiveness. Seven studies (ranging from N = 99 to N = 776) support a vision thinking collective action model where vision thinking is positively associated with motivation for collective action via the collective action predictors: social identity, efficacy, anger, and (with less evidence) hope. Collectively, the studies investigate vision thinking in groups in the lab, online vision thinking by individuals, online vision thinking in groups, and vision thinking by employees in a government department in response to a new strategy. The studies are based on themes including climate change, gender equity in politics, universal access to education, sustainable cities, and gender equity in leadership. Further findings are that vision thinking can be induced and that more prescription about the outcomes to imagine can aid engagement in vision thinking, particularly where there is initial resistance due to threat or a clash with beliefs regarding the specified topic to imagine. Vision thinking can lead to the formation of a social identity that informs collective action. Vision thinking can make what is initially perceived as impossible seem more possible, which in turn is associated with efficacy and motivation for collective action. We discuss the importance of group members’ vision thinking for collective action, and for giving meaning to the visions projected by leaders to influence collective action.
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